Grand prix racing

Geoff Robinson The Detroit News Published 10:09 p.m. UTC Jun 4, 2018 Detroit — The Detroit Grand Prix faces an uncertain future as the contract between Chevrolet and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources expired at the conclusion of this weekend's races. Penske Corporation president Bud Denker told reporters on Sunday that there was "no contract in place," but he plans to make a proposal to the state DNR, noting he thinks there's a strong case to keep the popular dual races on the island. "When we came here in 2007, Belle Isle wasn't a very good place," Denker said. "It wasn't clean, wasn't safe." "The improvements to Belle Isle are what we're most proud of. The first thing we wanted to work on was infrastructure. We built two bridges, fixed the roadways, fixed the drainage, added playgrounds and beautiful lighting." More: Hunter-Reay overtakes skidding Rossi to claim Detroit Grand Prix Race 2 More: GM exec Mark Reuss crashes pace car at Detroit Grand Prix … [Read more...] about Denker: ‘No contract in place’ to bring Detroit Grand Prix back to Belle Isle

Gregg Krupa The Detroit News Published 1:56 p.m. UTC Jun 4, 2018 Detroit — The skid, under pressure from a pursuer hard on the throttle, proved most costly for Alexander Rossi, in the second race of the Detroit Grand Prix Sunday. With Ryan Hunter-Reay chasing down the race leader and IndyCar series leader Rossi on lap 64 of the 70-lap race, Rossi locked his front left brake, shortly before approaching turn two of the Raceway on Belle Isle. A bit of rubber off the driving surface of the car is not the only thing that went up in smoke. DETROIT GRAND PRIX RACE 2 RESULTS So did Rossi’s lead in the race and the series. When he entered the turn, Rossi suddenly slid off the track, allowing both Hunter-Reay, the race winner, and Will Power, the new leader for the 2018 IndyCar championship, to accelerate past him. Compared to the other drivers, Hunter-Reay drove a rocket. He raced his Honda-powered Dellara chassis to the nine fastest laps of the race. “To … [Read more...] about Hunter-Reay overtakes skidding Rossi to claim Detroit Grand Prix Race 2

Gregg Krupa The Detroit News Published 11:09 p.m. UTC Jun 3, 2018 Detroit – Taking advantage of a brutal error by race leader Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay took the second race of the Detroit Grand Prix Sunday by 12 seconds over Will Power of Team Penske, who finished second. Hunter-Reay was in hot pursuit, and on six-laps younger tires, seemed to force Rossi into an error, after the Andretti Autosport racer had won the pole and led for much of the race. Under pressure, in turn two, Rossi locked one of his front breaks. The skid caused a puncture, and left him in no position to defend the lead. Hunter-Reay screamed by, with no hesitation, and Power continued not far behind him. Rossi finished 12th. DETROIT GRAND PRIX RACE 2 RESULTS The skid lost him not only the race, but his slender lead in the championship. After entering the May with little hope of winning the series title in 2018, Power is now in the lead, after winning both races in Indianapolis and finishing … [Read more...] about Hunter-Reay overtakes Rossi to claim Detroit Grand Prix Race 2

Gregg Krupa The Detroit News Published 12:40 p.m. UTC Jun 3, 2018 Detroit — Chevrolet came to town with the hot engine in the IndyCar series, but that changed in the first race of the Detroit Grand Prix on Saturday. Demonstrating superior drivability and performance on the long, bumpy Raceway on Belle Isle, Scott Dixon won his first race of the season in a Honda, one of six Honda-powered cars at the top of the field. “Just being part of the team, this is awesome,” Dixon said. “It’s always great to be in the winner’s circle, and the competition right now in the IndyCar series is just so tough.” Dixon drove one of seven Hondas that finished in the top 10 and one of nine in the top 12. Ryan Hunter-Reay finished second, Alexander Rossi third and the pole-winner, Marco Andretti, fourth. Andretti Autosport and Chip Ganassi Racing dominated the 70-lap race on the 2.3-mile, 13-turn course, benefiting from the Honda power. Chevrolet-powered … [Read more...] about Honda tops Chevrolet, Scott Dixon tops field in Detroit Grand Prix Race 1

David Goricki The Detroit News Published 11:18 p.m. UTC May 30, 2018 Sterling Heights — The 5th Annual Doug Guthrie Memorial Media Karting Challenge took place Tuesday night, kicking off the Detroit Grand Prix week. Detroit Grand Prix Race Chairman Bud Denker and his staff have put the Karting Challenge in place to honor the memory of Guthrie, a longtime Detroit News reporter who was a big motor sports fan. He passed away in 2013. Denker was on hand, and announced ticket sales are up 12 percent from a year ago, that 77 businesses are supporting the IndyCar doubleheader — 70-lap races run Saturday and Sunday — 25 chalets have been sold and a larger grandstand has been put in play down the backstretch with cars roaring past at 180 mph. Denker said Mother Nature should be lending a hand with sunshine and temperatures in the mid-70s during the weekend. Seven races will be held during race weekend, including the two IndyCar races, … [Read more...] about Denker expects ‘a lot of fun’ at Detroit Grand Prix